Free (or super cheap) outdoor fun in Ottawa

Want to have some summer fun, but are pinching your pennies to feed your daily gelato habit? The following list of free or very cheap outdoor activities is a work in progress by Fiona Marshall. Fiona is working on the list for the Money Skills workshops offered by the Canadian Mental Health Association to people with severe and persistent mental health issues, a program sponsored by the TD Financial Literacy Fund.

Help out Fiona (and your fellow cheapskates) by suggesting free or cheap recreational activities that we may have missed in the comments!

PICKUP SPORTS: FRIENDLY GAMES THAT ARE CASUALLY ORGANIZED AND COST NOTHING!

There are numerous soccer, basketball, ultimate frisbee, and football pick-up games throughout the city. All it takes is the initiative to ask if a game is a league game or a pick-up game and if you can join.

We have included a sampling of pick-up games around town:

Soccer

The Ontario Soccer Association’s (OSA) Soccer and Settlement project runs several soccer programs in different communities across Ottawa. Contact Javier Clavelo at jclavelo@soccer.on.ca or at 613.233.6561 ext 228 for more details.

Held on the last Sunday before Canada Day, the Community Cup is a day-long event designed to engage the community and reduce isolation and challenges faced by many newcomers. It is recreational co-ed soccer tournament bridging and connecting cultures, ethnicities, and generations. More info: www.communitycup.ca. Tel (613) 232-9634.

There’s also several regular pick-up soccer games happening around the city:

Ottawa has a great network of bicycle paths. You can pick up an affordable refurbished bike from Cycle Salvation ($40-$70 473 Bronson Avenue (near Gladstone,) or sometimes on kijji.com you can get your hand on a free bike from someone who no longer rides it.

MEC hosts a free Cycle Meet up every Thursday at 6:30pm, starting from 366 Richmond Road. Call 613.729.2700 for more details

Jogging

Ottawa has numerous routes that are fun to jog including the experimental farm, along the rivers or in the greenbelt or simply the streets in your neighbourhood. The main cost is a good pair of running shoes, you don’t want to scrimp on those because you could pay for it later in foot or knee injuries.

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game. Serious geocachers will probably want to use a GPS unit, which can be pricey, but if you have a smartphone there are many geocaching apps you can download for pennies (some are even free). They’ll do the trick if you’re just after an afternoon of fun! The pastime involves using GPS coordinates to find hidden containers, called geocaches, and then logging your finds online. The containers contain a logbook for you to sign, and sometimes a small, inexpensive prize. Each time you take something from a geocache, you should leave something behind for the next person. Geocache coordinates can be found at a number of websites, the most prominent one being www.geocaching.com. Basic membership to geocaching.com is free and lets you search for nearby geocaches using your postal code.

The City of Ottawa offers help with program fees so that all residents can take part in recreation and culture activities regardless of their ability to pay. If you are already a participant in a community or social service agency program, or if you are an individual or family with a low-income, you may qualify for the Ottawa Hand in Hand recreation and culture fee support program. For more information on the Ottawa Hand in Hand, Recreation and Culture Fee Support, please click here or phone 311

The City of Ottawa offers Standard Category public swims at the following indoor facilities, year-round. Swims in the Standard category are ($10 or less for a family of four). Standard swim prices: family admission (maximum 2 adults) $1.90 per person (tots 2 and under get in for free).

The City of Ottawa also offers Leisure category public swimming year-round. Leisure swim prices: $2.90 per person, tots 2 and under get in for free.

PUBLIC SKATING AT CITY OF OTTAWA ARENAS

City arenas offer public skating, family skating sessions, adult skating sessions, 50+ skating sessions and pick up hockey for adults.

Schedules vary by arena. All arenas offer skating from October 1 to March 31; some arenas offer skating year-round. See website for details. Check individual arena listings prior to going as schedules are subject to change. Public skating fees are $6.75/family (2 adults, 2 children).